University of Vermont Again a Top Peace Corps College

The University of Vermont is No. 5 on Peace Corps’ 2013 Top Colleges for medium-sized schools ranking. This is the second year in a row the university has placed fifth on the list, which recognizes the highest volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the U.S. for small, medium, large and graduate institutions.

There are currently 37 UVMundergraduate alumni serving in 28 locations overseas -- from Azerbaijan to Ecuador to Fiji to Mongolia. They work in areas including agriculture, education, environment, health, community economic development and youth development. Since the agency was founded in 1961, a total of 819 alumni have served in the Peace Corps.

“Every year, graduates of colleges and universities across the United States are making a difference in communities overseas through Peace Corps service,” said Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet. “As a result of the top-notch education they receive, these graduates are well prepared for the challenge of international service. They become leaders in their host communities and carry the spirit of service and leadership back with them when they return home.”

“This ranking confirms what we know about our students and alumni: they’re highly dedicated to making the world a better place,” said Tom Sullivan, UVM president. “We’re proud of their volunteerism and to be again among the agency’s top-producing universities this year.”

The State of Vermont, meanwhile, is the No. 2 Peace Corps volunteer-producing state in the nation on a per-capita basis, with 7.2 of every 100,000 residents currently serving in the Peace Corps.

Americans with backgrounds in agriculture, environment, teaching English as a second language, and other technical or language skills related to Peace Corps assignment areas are encouraged to apply for service one year in advance of their target departure date. The next application deadline is Feb. 28. University of Vermont students or those in the Burlington area interested in learning more should contact Peace Corps recruiter Kelly Dolan at peace.corps@uvm.edu or (802) 656-8269.

The Peace Corps ranks colleges annually according to the size of the student body. Small schools have less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-sized schools have between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates and large schools have more than 15,000 undergraduates. Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2012 data as of September 30, 2012 as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.